Military training film showing psychological operations in "Hostland," a mythical (probably Latin American) country, designed to aid the host government in gaining the support of the population.


This movie is part of the collection: Prelinger Archives

Producer: U.S. Army Pictorial Center
Sponsor: U.S. Army Materiel Command
Audio/Visual: Sd, B&W
Keywords: Psychological warfare; Propaganda; Military

Creative Commons license: Public Domain

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Reviewer: USABG58 - - September 22, 2011
Subject: Yeah, OK...so...?
(Tears for Fear playing in the background) Everybody wants to rule the world. OK...shocking news!...

Reviewer: splue - - March 31, 2011
Subject: word
word

Reviewer: Tollundism - - March 28, 2011
Subject: marshall and trueman containment
This trick may have worked with Britain and some of Western Europe but it failed in its entire effort in Southeast Asia. A good example of Hostland is Ge Gaulle's France which left NATO and sought its own independence among other Europeans and Third World from American and Soviet influence. This left France with no American support during the Algerian crises. And when the UK France and Israel tried to take back the Suez Canal the US and USSR worked together to pressure the three to relinquish it back to Nassar.

The film strongly reflects the sympathies of the Vietnam era

Reviewer: bugarinartbug - - January 19, 2010
Subject: It Is What It Is
The content is widely known; so, visual symbolic images influence concentration of subject matter. It is interesting enough. I would say see it.

Reviewer: cashel - - July 15, 2004
Subject: Is this how the USA works in 2004??
. It is u.s. army training film in 2 parts. It is valuable for comparing the problems illustrated to those in todays Colombia, Iraq or Phillipines. It matters little how good the USA workers are, they are still Foreigners and as such, their presence will be resented. I consider that their good works will have a negative effect.

Reviewer: Spuzz - - March 26, 2004
Subject: An Idiot's guide to get rid of the communists
The move with the longest title ever known to man proves to be a pretty good, but not spectacular bit of anti-commie propaganda. In 'Hostland', efforts are made to drive subversive forces out of the country by infiltrating the country's media and other methods, It appears that Hostland's strategies are soekked out by drawing cute stick men for army personell and their number one strategy is barn dances for the locals. The anti-commie rap is light, so that means it's a little less entertaining all around.

Shotlist

At the United States embassy of a small fictional country, Hostland, delegates request assistance in counteracting the outside influences which "have planted the seeds of subversion" in their country. "As with most countries that find themselves in the midst of a Communist inspired insurgency, Hostland has a population with a doubtful sense of national unity". In this fictional land with hints of Latin American influence, the United States military must work with the government of Hostland, not only to provide militaristic strength, but through psychological operations to gain the support of the population. "Psychologically, the military in every country in the world represents government authority. Military psychological operations cannot function independently. They must always reflect the national policy of the host country."

A fake "ethnic" dance in "Hostland"
Shot through a drainpipe of soldiers digging a ditch with a crane in the background
Women and children at a pipe with running water
A military road block with contents of covered trucks being inspected by soldiers
Children at a playground being forced to leave by soldiers
People in front of microphones in a sound proof radio booth
People waving from the back of covered military vehicles as soldiers march along the side of the roads
Women and children being loaded into the back of a covered truck
A man looking through charred books near a damaged house with soldiers
A soldier sits in a rainstorm, looking at a piece of paper and clutching his bleeding leg
Close-up of a reel-to-reel tape recorder
Close-up of a farmer's face -- man is in overalls and wearing a hat
A soldier in a military jeep calls to the farmer man who walks towards the vehicle



UNITED STATES ARMY MILITARY SCIENCE DEFENSE PSYCHOLOGICAL WARFARE COMMUNISM COUNTERINSURGENCY LATIN AMERICA SOUTH AMERICA DRAMAS HUMOR COMEDY MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS MILITARY ASSISTANCE Military training films U.S. Army (sponsor) Psychological warfare Latin America Anti-communism Counterinsurgency
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